How do we know what was in an early 19th Century Home?

Inventories, like the one shown below, provide us with valuable information about the estate holdings of many Eastern Shore residents of the time period. When a property owner passed away, an inventory would be compiled, listing all of their belongings and their estimated values.

These lists provide a glimpse into their daily lives, providing clues as to their occupation, level of literacy, interest in fashion, agricultural contributions, and whether there were any slaves or indentured servants living and working on the property.